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LIBRARY 


OF  THE 


MASSACHUSETTS 

AGRICULTURAL 

COLLEGE 


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Source 


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DATE  DUE 

UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 

AT 

AMHERST 


REPORT 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  CONVENTION 


\] 


m  a  MM  mm  m  iirawrs 


Chicago,  Illinois,  February  25,   1886, 


WITH    THE 


ADDRESS    OF    THE    PRESIDENT 


Flax  and  Hemp  Spinners  and  Growers'  Association, 


AND    THE 


REPORT    OF    THE    ANNUAL    MEETING. 


BOSTON: 
SMITH    AND    PORTER,    PRINTERS, 

Old   South  Chapel,    Spring   Lane, 
1886. 


6   3  3-^^^ 

/  8   S 


4 


ADDRESS. 


Geisttlemeist  : 

The  object  of  the  Flax  and  Hemp  Association 
is  to  advance  the  business  in  flax  and  hemp  and  their 
products  in  the  United  States. 

Since  the  formation  of  the  Association  in  1883, 
we  have  on  several  occasions  considered  the  matter 
of  the  waste  of  the  flax  fibre  in  this  country,  and 
also  the  question  of  the  decline  in  the  production  of 
American  hemp.  The  result  has  been  that  we  have 
decided  on  the  conference  to  which  you  are  now 
invited ;  and  we  hope  that  a  free  exchange  of  views 
will  produce  wise  counsel,  and  that  our  action  here 
to-day  may  be  productive  of  much  good. 

The  history  of  flax  is  a  most  interesting  study, 
as  it  reaches  back  nearly  four  thousand  years,  and  an 
account  of  the  origin  and  growth  of  this  fibre  and  its 
products  stated  in  detail  would  be  most  attractive; 
but  we  must  at  this  time  consider  the  conditions  of 
the  industry  as  existing  to-day,  having  in  mind  the 
objects  to  be  attained  by  this  meeting. 

Let  us  first  consider  the  question  of  flax. 

An  estimate  of  the  average  crop  of  flax  raised 
in  the  world  —  outside  of  the   United   States  —  is 

(3) 


3,800,000  acres.  Of  this  it  is  estimated  that  Kussia 
cultivates  2,000,000  acres. 

The  acreage  of  3,300,000  at  an  average  of  336 
pounds  of  fibre  per  acre  would  produce  495,000  tons 
of  flax,  and  this  at  an  average  of  $250  per  ton  would 
represent  nearly  $125,000,000.  I  believe  this  esti- 
mate is  a  very  conservative  one. 

Reports  of  the  American  flax-seed  crop  for  the 
year  1885  estimate  the  amount  raised  as  12,000,000 
bushels,  valued  at  $13,500,000.  If  the  average  were 
twelve  bushels  to  the  acre,  you  must  have  planted 
1,000,000  acres  of  flax.  If  this  1,000,000  acres  had 
been  properly  planted  and  cared  for,  and  you  had 
saved  336  pounds  of  flax  per  acre,  you  would  have 
had  150,000  tons  of  fibre,  which  could  have  been 
sold  for  a  good  round  sum.  Estimate  it,  if  you 
please,  at  $250  per  ton,  and  you  would  have  a  total 
of  $37,500,000.  You  may  wish  to  calculate  upon  a 
little  less  production  of  seed,  if  you  consider  raising 
flax  for  the  fibre  as  well  as  for  the  seed,  but  a 
liberal  discount  from  the  figures  just  named  will 
leave  a  sufficient  amount  to  demonstrate  the  possible 
increased  value  to  be  derived  from  the  flax  crop. 

What  have  we  to  show  for  fibre  on  the  immense 
acreage  of  flax  planted?     Almost  nothing. 

If  the  estimate  of  1,000,000  acres  of  flax  is 
correct,  we  stand  second  to  Kussia  in  the  acreage 
planted;  but  in  raising  flax  for  the  seed  alone,  we 
have  only  India  to  keep  us  company. 

We  raise  flax  for  the  seed,  we  waste  the  fibre  — 
indeed,  we  even  have  to  spend  time  and  labor  to 
dispose  of  the  straw  containing  the  fibre,  and  then 
perchance  we  wipe  the  sweat  from  our  brows  with  a 


linen  towel  made  from  fibre  similar  to  that  which  we 
labor  to  get  rid  of,  —  the  cloth  in  the  towel  being 
imported  from  Kussia,  Ireland,  or  Scotland.  Your 
wheat  crop  commands  a  low  price ;  yon  see  the  ac- 
cumulation, and  you  talk  of  diversified  crops  and 
look  about  to  see  what  the  future  is  to  be,  yet  you 
bind  your  sheaf  of  wheat  with  twine  made  from  the 
sisal  of  Central  America  or  fi'om  the  manila  of  the 
Philippine  Islands,  or  of  these  fibres  mixed,  while 
you  throw  away  fibre  suited  to  make  good  binder 
twine. 

I  am,  howeYcr,  glad  to  state  that  there  is  some 
binder  twine  used  which  is  made  from  hemp  and  also 
from  flax,  but  I  hope  that  in  the  near  future  the 
twine  for  harvesting-machines  may  be  made  more 
largely  from  American  fibres. 

It  is  said  by  many  that  flax  exhausts  the  soil 
more  than  other  plants;  but  if  this  is  so,  your  one 
million  acres  of  flax  must  be  doing  us  great  injury. 
The  exhaustion  of  the  soil  I  understand  to  be  com- 
mon, and  to  apply  to  everything  raised ;  but  it  is  the 
rotation  of  crops  and  the  renewal  of  the  soil  which 
keep  the  land  in  prime  condition.  It  is  with  pleas- 
ure that  I  noticed  in  the  Chicago  Tribune,  under 
date  of  February  13,  an  article  touching  this  point 
by  Mr.  S.  H.  Stevens,  Flax-seed  Inspector  of  your 
city,  and  I  cannot  do  better  than  quote  extracts  from 
his  communication. 

lie  quotes  from  Tomlinson's  Cyclopedia  as 
follows :  — 

"  The  great  objection  urged  against  the  cultiva- 
tion of  flax  is  that  it  is  an  exhausting  crop.  And 
this  is  quite  true,  for  it  abstracts  a  larger  amount  of 


6 

nitrogen  from  the  soil  than  many  other  crops.  But 
under  the  new  mode  of  management  copied  from  the 
careful  systems  of  the  Continent,  this  objection  is 
completely  set  aside.  The  restoration  of  the  steep- 
water,  of  the  woody  portions  of  the  plant  with  the 
husks  of  the  seed  to  the  soil,  completely  renovates 
the  soil,  making  it  as  well  fitted  to  produce  any  crop 
as  before." 

"Quoting  from  Wilson's  'Rural  Cyclopedia^: 
'AH  the  fibrous  portion  of  the  plant  is  elaborated 
out  of  the  elements  of  air  and  water,  so  that  the  fibre 
alone  might  year  after  year  for  ages  be  removed  from 
the  soil,  or  the  plant  might  for  ages  be  cultivated  on 
the  same  field  by  always  returning  to  it  the  seeds, 
the  scutching,  and  the  steep-water,  without  occasion- 
ing a  particle  of  impoverishment.  Even  the  seeds 
contain  a  very  small  portion  of  inorganic  matter,  or 
matter  derived  from  the  soil,  compared  with  the 
whole  bulk;  and  when  they  are  all  used  in  cattle- 
feeding  on  the  farm,  and  their  organic  principles 
afterward  returned  to  the  land  as  an  item  of  farm- 
yard manure,  they  too,  as  well  as  the  fibre,  may  be 
taken  off*  for  ages  without  impoverishment.' 

"Read  what  J.  Forbes  Royle  says  in  his  'Fibrous 
Plants  of  India':  "There  is,  however,  one  striking 
point  of  dissimilarity  between  the  cultivation  of 
wheat  and  that  of  flax.  And  we  are  indebted  to  Sir 
Robert  Kane  for  having  for  the  first  time  brought 
this  point  under  the  notice  of  the  farmer  in  a  forcible 
manner, — namely,  that  while  the  mineral  ingredients 
which  we  remove  from  our  fields  in  wheat,  or  cereals 
in  general,  become  constituents  of  food  and  enter  in 
this   manner    into    circulation,    from   which,   under 


favorable  circumstances,  they  return  to  the  soil  after 
the  lapse  of  some  time,  the  woody  fibre  of  flax  as  a 
necessary  preliminary  to  its  being  used  by  man  is 
separated  to  a  considerable  extent  from  those  very 
mineral  substances  which  are  so  essential  for  its  suc- 
cessful growth.  This  mineral  matter,  when  econo- 
mized in  a  proper  manner  by  the  farmer,  may  be 
returned  to  his  field  to  keep  up  the  equilibrium  of  its 
fertility.  The  inorganic  substances  taken  up  by  the 
plant  are  only  instruments  used  in  its  production, 
which  should  be  as  carefully  preserved  as  tools  in  a 
manufactory,  and  will  then  do  further  duty  in  pro- 
moting the  elaboration  of  futui-e  crops." 

"Spon's  'Encyclopedia  of  the  Industrial  Arts 
and  Manufactures,'  says :  '  Analysis  of  the  flax  plant 
dried  at  100°  {212°  F.)  shows  3.2  per  cent,  of  ash; 
this  ash  contains  20.32  per  cent  of  potash,  19.88  of 
lime,  10.24  of  phosphoric  acid.  It  is  estimated  that 
the  flax  grown  on  one  acre  of  land  extracts  from 
the  soil  about  fifty  pounds  of  alkalies  (chiefly  pot- 
ash) and  twenty-four  pounds  of  phosphoric  acid. 
Almost  the  whole  of  this  might  be  returned  im- 
mediately to  the  soil  if  the  refuse  of  the  plant  and 
the  retting  water  were  utilized. 

"'The  soil  of  the  "Western  prairies  (in  wide 
reaches)  is  so  surcharged  with  the  very  ingredients 
required  by  the  flax  plant,  as  shown  by  the  analysis, 
that  it  is  important  that  they  be  reduced  rather  than 
increased.  The  reduction  is  practical  through  the 
cultivation  of  the  flax  plant,  which  will  grow  in  the 
greatest  luxuriance  on  soil  so  overburdened  with 
alkali  as  to  hinder  or  entirely  bar  the  cereals.  The 
equilibrium  of  the  soil  would  be  restored  by  sowing 


8 

flax  on  the  sod,  and  the  dreaded  alkali  would  be 
taken  up  and  become  a  source  of  wealth. 

" '  I  will  say  in  passing,  that  while  the  flax  plant 
is  more  rapid,  it  is  no  more  sure  in  exhaustion  than 
the  cereals.  When  either  is  cultivated,  the  ingredi- 
ents withdrawn  should  be  restored,  if  needed,  for  the 
coming  crop.  This  can  be  most  readily  accomplished 
by  the  cultivator  of  flax-seed.  The  woody  centre 
and  the  gum  which  cements  the  fibre  thereto,  retain 
nearly  all  the  earthy  matter  taken  up ;  and  the  husk 
holds  the  remainder,  the  fibre  is  elaborated  from  air 
and  water.  The  returning  of  the  flax  straw  to  the 
field  whence  it  comes  makes  nearly  a  complete  resto- 
ration. Should  it  not  be  needed  on  the  identical 
land,  then  it  is  no  less  valuable  on  land  on  which  the 
waste  of  previous  years  begins  to  tell.  But  it  is 
hardly  necessary  to  return  to  earth  this  straw  in  its 
raw  and  undecomposed  state,  for  as  a  forage  it  is 
superior,  cattle  accepting  it  to  the  exclusion  of  all 
other  fodder.  Thus,  with  the  addition  of  the  oil- 
cake (which  every  feeder  should  use),  the  Western 
farmer  has  well  in  hand  all  this  very  exhausting 
crop,  and  has  withdrawn  from  the  soil  a  fertilizer 
without  cost,  more  valuable  to  his  land  than  any 
known  to  commerce. 

'"While  it  is  so  easy  and  practical  for  the  cul- 
tivator of  flax  to  retain  the  equilibrium  of  his  fields, 
not  so  the  producer  of  the  cereals,  as  the  mineral 
ingredients  of  the  soil  taken  up  become  constituents 
of  food  which  is  sold  to  foreign  lands,  and  thus  the 
real  wealth  of  our  country  is  borne  away  without 
recall.' " 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  with  proper  hand- 


9 

ling  flax  may  be  made  less  exhaustive  than  wheat; 
and  yet  we  to-day  have  a  possible  surplus  of  wheat, 
while  we  import  the  flax  we  use,  and  even  the  coun- 
tries of  Europe  are  troubled  about  their  future  sup- 
ply of  flax. 

As  before  stated,  Russia  is  the  largest  producer 
of  flax,  and  has  in  the  past  exported  enormous  quan- 
tities of  the  fibre ;  but  mthin  a  few  years  her  people 
have  been  large  purchasers  of  English  flax  machin- 
ery, and  are  establishing  factories  in  Russia,  which 
will  in  time  take  the  place  of  the  production  of  hand 
spinning  and  hand  weaving. 

Evidently  Russia  intends  to  supply  her  home 
market  with  linen  goods,  and  also  has  an  eye  on  the 
business  of  the  Eastern  countries. 

This  manufacturing  in  their  own  country  is  tak- 
ing the  best  of  their  flax,  and  as  a  result  the  poorer 
grades  are  being  shipped,  while  formerly  the  best 
selections  of  their  crop  were  obtainable. 

As  showing  the  condition  of  the  foreign  flax 
business,  I  will  give  quotations  from  a  Flax  Report 
issued  from  Dundee,  December  31,  1885,  concern- 
ing the  business  of  the  past  year  and  the  prospect 
for  the  future :  — 

"In  the  flax  trade  one  of  the  main  features  of 
the  year  has  been  the  unsatisfactory  nature  of  the 
supply  of  nearly  all  the  Russian  flax  from  the  crop 
of  1884.  The  continued  deterioration  of  the  supplies 
from  Russia  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  most  seri- 
ous considerations  which  consumers  in  this  country 
have  to  face,  l^o  doubt,  for  a  year  or  two  back,  the 
character  of  the  seasons  has  not  been  altogether 
favorable  for  the  growth  of  the  flax;  but  apart  from 


10 

this  there  is  abundant  evidence  that  the  preparation 
and  assorting  of  the  flax  is  not  what  it  used  to  be ; 
marks  have  ceased  to  have  their  former  significance, 
and  frauds  and  adulterations  are  practised,  which 
were  formerly  rare  if  not  altogether  unknown.  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  spinners  are  to  such  an  extent 
powerless  in  the  matter;  the  weakness  of  the 
position  seems  to  be  in  the  succession  of  short 
crops,  and  the  competition  there  is  in  securing  the 
article  from  first  hands.  There  has  been  little  if  any 
reserve  of  stock  of  the  raw  material,  so  that  con- 
sumers have  been  prematurely  forced  into  the  mar- 
ket ;  and  the  narrowness  of  margin  between  supply 
and  demand  has  no  doubt  aided  producers  in  practis- 
ing the  adulterations  and  deterioration  of  brack,, 
which  has  caused  such  disappointment  and  loss  to 
consumers.  In  September  last,  a  conference  of  spin- 
ners from  France,  Belgium,  and  Great  Britain  was 
held  at  Antwerp  to  consider  the  question  of  the 
Russian  flax  supply,  and  resolutions  addressed  to  the 
Russian  Government  were  passed;  it  remains  to  be 
seen,  however,  whether  any  benefit  will  arise  from 
this.  The  flax  which  has  perhaps  given  rise  to  most 
disapjDointment  is  that  from  Archangel,  which  seems 
somewhat  singular,  seeing  it  is  the  only  port  where 
the  Government  brack  is  still  in  force.  The  quality 
has  been  going  down  year  after  year,  but  what  ha& 
been  received  this  year  has  proved,  on  the  whole, 
worse  than  at  any  time  hitherto.  Shipments  are  fall- 
ing off  greatly  from  this  port,  as  a  large  portion 
of  the  crop  formerly  sent  hither  now  finds  its  way 
to  St.  Petersburg  by  rail. 


11 

"  From  St.  Petersburg  there  has  been  about  an 
average  supply,  and  to  this  must  be  added  unusually 
large  shipments  during  the  winter  of  St.  Petersburg 
district  flax  via  Peval.  Quality  has  been  various,  but 
on  the  whole,  both  in  Slanitz  and  white  flaxes, 
somewhat  similar  to  the  early  samples.  The  ship- 
ments from  Pernau  have  been  on  a  much  more  liberal 
scale  than  was  expected,  and  have  disproved  the 
early  reports  of  a  short  supply  from  that  district ;  the 
quality,  although  leaving  so  much  to  be  desired,  has 
been  better  maintained  than  that  of  any  other  de- 
scription, but  the  cleaning  is  greatly  deficient.  From 
Riga  the  importations  have  also  been  large,  but  the 
quality  has  been  in  many  cases  very  unsatisfactory, 
and,  on  the  average,  shows  a  great  falling  ofi!"  com- 
pared to  the  flax  shipped  a  few  years  ago ;  deficient 
cleaning,  irregularity  of  brack,  damping  and  stufiing, 
have  been  the  chief  complaints.  So  great  is  the 
variety  in  the  Riga  flax  of  some  marks  that  it  is  now 
difiicult,  if  not  impossible,  to  determine  what  is  '  aver- 
age quality ' ;  hence  that  term  has  almost  fallen  into 
disuse,  and  the  flax  is  sold  according  to  the  char- 
acter of  the  shipper  of  the  district  in  which  it  is 
collected. 

"  With  regard  to  the  prospective  supply  of  flax, 
we  regret  to  report  rather  unfavorably.  Taken  as  a 
whole,  the  crop  in  Russia  is  not  likely  to  prove  more 
abundant  than  in  the  preceding  year,  which  was  not 
up  to  an  average  either  in  point  of  quantity  or 
quality.  From  the  Archangel  and  St.  Petersburg- 
districts  the  reports  are  particularly  unfavorable,  and 
the  quantity  to  come  from  them  is  likely  to  be  much 
under  the  average.     In  some  important  districts  the 


12 

orop  is  reported  to  be  almost  exhausted  already.  In 
the  districts  sii23plying  Riga  a  comparatively  better 
crop  has  been  secured,  and  we  look  for  quite  as  much 
being  shipped  as  this  year,  and,  on  the  whole,  of 
rather  better  quality.  In  the  Pernau  districts  the 
quantity  will  probably  fall  a  little  short  of  last  year, 
but  the  quality  is  expected  to  be  better,  as  the 
steeping  process  was  accomplished  under  favorable 
conditions.  In  Ireland  and  on  the  Continent  the 
Jiax  crops  of  this  year  have  proved  successful,  and 
this  will,  of  course,  to  some  extent  make  up  for  the 
deficiency  in  the  Russian  crop. 

"For  Spring  shipment  nothing  has  yet  been 
done;  sellers  have  scarcely  yet  come  forward  with 
offers,  as  the  open  winter  in  Russia  has  prevented 
supplies  coming  forward  freely.  On  the  other  hand, 
consumers  on  this  side  are  discouraged  by  the 
wretched  state  of  trade,  and  they  will  likely  operate 
very  cautiously,  unless  prices  open  lower  than  pres- 
ent appearances  indicate. 

"  Tows.  —  The  most  noticeable  feature  in  these 
is  the  extraordinarily  reduced  state  of  stocks,  and  the 
consequent  sharp  advance  which  has  taken  place  in 
prices  during  the  year.  At  no  period  for  many 
years  past  have  stocks,  particularly  of  fine  tows, 
been  so  utterly  cleaned  out;  and  consumers  who  have 
now  to  look  for  stocks  will  find  it  difficult,  if  not  im- 
possible, to  procure  them.  The  importations  have 
been  falling  off  for  several  years  back.  Continental 
buyers  having  operated  more  freely,  especially  in  fine 
Petersburg  tows.  Prices  have  now  reached  such  a 
point,  however,  that  trade  has  become  unprofitable 
to  spinners,  and    the  demand  may  be    expected    to 


13 

diminish.  The  prospect  of  a  liberal  supply  next 
season  is,  unfortunately,  not  favorable,  and  con- 
sequently the  outlook  for  tow-spinners  is  not  very 
satisfactory." 

With  such  an  outlook  for  the  production  of  flax 
in  Europe,  may  we  not  look  forward  to  the  time 
when  we  can  be  exporters  of  flax? 

Canada  to-day  sends  us  flax  and  tow,  while  our 
conditions  of  soil  and  climate  cannot  be  inferior  to 
theirs. 

It  is  said  you  cannot  raise  seed  and  good  fibre 
at  the  same  time,  but  this  is  not  a  fact.  You  must 
sow  your  seed  more  thickly,  must  keep  out  the 
weeds,  must  gather  the  stalks  with  care;  and  while 
you  will  not  get  quite  the  quantity  of  seed  per  acre 
which  you  would  have  if  you  sowed  less  seed  and 
had  more  branches  to  your  plants,  yet  you  will  find 
the  fibre  much  more  valuable  than  the  seed. 

Can  the  fibre  be  marketed  if  prepared? 

The  importations  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June 
30,  1885,  are  reported  as  follows :  — 


Tons.  Value.  Duty. 
Flax,  hackled,  known 

as  dressed  line  .     .      1,014  $599,453  |40,589 
Flax,  not  hackled  or 

dressed     ....     3,869  862,975  77,385 

Tow  of  flax       .     .     .      1,699  270,239  16,998 


Total     .     .     .     .      6,582    $1,732,667     $134,972 

134,972 


$1,867,639 


14 

The  6,582  tons  seems  a  small  amount  of  fibre,  if 
we  sow  an  acreage  sufiicient  to  produce  150,000 
tons  of  fibre,  and  it  shows  that  if  possible,  we  should 
arrange  to  increase  our  consumption  of  flax. 

Value.  Duty. 

The  importations  of  brown 

and  bleached  linens, 
ducks,  diapers,  hand- 
kerchiefs, etc.      .     .     .    112,159,892     $4,255,962 

4,255,962 


Total     .....    $16,415,854 

Have  we  not  a  field  for  the  extension  of  the 
manufacture  of  linen  piece  goods  in  this  country ;  and 
if  an  abundant  supply  of  the  raw  material  can  be 
furnished  at  a  reasonable  price,  why  cannot  we  do 
more  than  we  are  now  doing?  Every  efi'ort  should 
be  made  to  have  this  class  of  goods  produced  in  this 
country  as  far  as  may  be  possible. 

We  cannot  expect  to  manufacture  at  once  the 
full  line  of  goods  made  from  flax,  but  we  should  do 
more  than  is  now  being  done;  and  while  our  flax 
may  not  be  suited  for  the  finest  grades  of  linens,  yet 
we  have  a  large  field  in  the  coarser  grade  of  goods, 
and  when  we  can  succeed  in  this,  we  can  work  to 
accomplish  the  production  of  the  finer  grades.  Some 
persons  would  discourage  the  efforts  to  make  linen 
piece  goods  in  this  country,  claiming  that  we  cannot 
successfully  compete  with  the  skill  of  the  Old  World; 
but  I  do  not  agree  with  such  opinions,  as  I  believe 
we  can  accomplish  anything  in  this  country,  where 
skill  and  enterprise  are  the  bases  of  success. 


15 

The  farmers  in  the  West  have  shown  a  desire  for 
labor-saving  machinery,  and  the  care  and  preparation 
of  flax  may  in  the  past  have  seemed  to  be  a  tedious 
operation,  but  it  is  expected  the  details  of  handling 
flax  will  be  simplified  in  the  near  future.  Quite  a 
stir  has  been  occasioned  in  the  flax  markets  of  the 
world  by  a  new  scutching-machine,  the  invention  of 
a  Frenchman.  I  quote  from  the  United  States  Con- 
sular Report  as  follows :  — 

"  The  new  process  consists  in  taking  a  handful 
of  stalks  in  a  press  similar  to  that  of  flax-combing 
machines;  these  are  received  on  a  carriage,  which 
moves  slowly  on  an  endless  chain,  and  are  immedi- 
ately pierced  by  steel  pins,  which  move  forward  and 
backward  horizontally,  and  prick  the  outer  surface 
and  divide  it  into  small  bits,  which  loosen  themselves 
and  fall  in  particles.  The  fibre  remains  intact,  and 
none  is  perceptible  among  the  heaps  of  chafl*. 

"  After  this  the  stalks  are  nearly  stripped  of 
skin,  of  which,  nevertheless,  some  particles  still  ad- 
here, which  are  entirely  removed  as  they  pass  through 
a  mill,  with  fans.  It  then  enters  upon  the  third  por- 
tion of  the  machine,  which  is  a  combing-machine, 
diflering  from  the  ordinary  combing-machines  in 
being  arranged  with  fewer  combs. 

"  It  is  claimed  that  by  this  process  the  stalks  of 
flax  will  turn  out  as  much  combed  flax  per  pound  as 
by  the  old  process  was  produced  of  23eeled  flax.  For 
instance,  with  flax  stalks  weighing  100  kilograms, 
which  yielded  formerly  twenty  kilograms  of  peeled 
stalk  and  twelve  kilograms  of  combed  flax,  this  new 
process  would  give  twenty  kilograms  of  combed 
flax. 


16 

"From  the  best  information  attainable  from  sev- 
eral spinners,  the  reduction  of  cost  is  estimated  at 
forty  per  cent  per  kilogram  for  the  spun  flax. 

"  The  labor  is  trifling.  Each  pair  of  machines 
emjDloys  three  boys,  about  the  same  as  combing- 
machines. 

"  Those  in  the  trade  comprehend  the  advantages 
of  these  results,  and  attach  great  importance  to  them, 
and  are  adapting  their  business  to  the  new  state  of 
afiairs. 

"  These  machines  can  be  erected  wherever  a  sup- 
ply of  flax  can  be  obtained.  The  stalks  can  be 
peeled  by  this  new  machinery,  and  the  fibre  combed 
and  prepared  for  shipment  to  the  linen  manufacturer. 

"  ]^early  all  of  the  spinners  who  have  seen  the 
new  machines  have  ordered  them.  The  maker  has 
orders  now  for  the  construction  of  238  machines. 

"  The  inventor  of  this  machine  is  M.  Jules 
Cardon.  He  has  been  superintendent  of  combing  in 
the  Union  Linen  Works  of  the  N^orth,  and  was 
awarded  last  year  a  prize  by  the  Industrial  Society 
of  the  IsTorth  for  an  improved  comber.  He  has  tried 
for  ten  years  to  invent  a  peeler.  The  third  attempt 
seems  to  be  successful." 

As  with  all  new  machinery  or  methods,  there 
are  those  who  doubt  the  success  of  that  which  is  un- 
tried; but  as  the  machine  appears  to  be  in  the  hands 
of  competent  makers  of  flax  machinery,  I  think  that 
we  may  look  forward  to  favorable  results. 

Let  us  all  start  anew  and  try  to  accomplish 
something  in  the  matter  of  the  utilization  of  the 
flax  fibre  in  the  United  States;    let  sample  lots  be 


17 

worked  out  by  the  farmers  until  the  desired  quahty 
be  obtained  j  let  the  manufacturers  pay  the  highest 
market  price,  and  in  every  way  aid  and  encourage 
the  growth  and  preparation  of  the  fibre.  If  the 
individual  farmers  cannot  attend  to  the  retting  and 
scutching  of  the  flax,  then  let  skilled  persons  have 
charge  of  a  mill  in  each  farming  district,  where  the 
crops  for  a  large  territory  can  be  made  ready  for 
market. 

Europe  is  armed  to  the  teeth;  each  nation  has  a 
watchful  eye  on  its  neighbor,  and  war  may  not  be 
impossible  at  some  future  time.  It  would  take  but 
the  involving  of  a  few  countries  in  war  to  stop  the 
greater  part  of  the  world's  supply  of  flax  from  being 
marketed,  and  yet  we  rest  here  amid  plenty,  and 
import  our  flax  fibre  and  our  linens.  I  can  but  use 
the  remark  of  a  Scotchman  brought  up  in  the  linen 
business,  who  visited  our  Western  country  not  long 
ago ;  when  he  saw  the  flax  fibre  and  its  lack  of  use, 
he  said,  "  What  a  waste  of  God's  mercies ! " 

Referring  to  American  hemp,  we  find  the  crops, 
according  to  the  census  reports,  to  be  as  follows :  — 


Census  of  .     .     1850 

.     .      34,871  tons 

.     .     1860       . 

.      74,493     " 

.     .     1870 

.      12,746     " 

.     .     1880 

5,025     " 

Estimated  crop,  1885 

.     .        6,000     " 

18 

The  report  of  the  imports  of  hemp  (not  includ- 
ing manila  or  sisal)  is  as  follows :  — 

Tons.  Value.  -         Duty. 


Hemp  .     .     .     . 

,     4,917 

$778,327 

1122,945 

Tow  of  hemp     . 

709 

84,957 

7,097 

Hemp  yarns 

.       172 

32,728 

11,454 

One  reason  for  the  decline  in  the  demand  for 
American  hemp  is  that  now  the  bagging  for  covering 
cotton  is  made  largely  from  jnte,  because  of  a  claimed 
absence  of  the  shive,  which  was  formerly  found  in 
hemp  and  flax  bagging.  Another  reason  is  that  the 
manila,  sisal,  and  jute  fibres  have  taken  the  place  of 
hemp  in  cordage,  yarns,  and  similar  goods,  and  the 
low  price  of  these  fibres  has  had'  the  efi'ect  to  stim- 
ulate their  consumption. 

Many  persons  have  expressed  to  me  their  opin- 
ion that  the  past  legislation  concerning  the  laws 
afiecting  the  importation  of  jute,  has  proved  a  great 
injury  to  the  business  in  flax  and  hemp.  We  have 
with  us  to-day  representatives  from  the  hemp-grow- 
ing districts  of  Kentucky,  who  should  express  to 
you  fully  their  views  as  to  the  past  and  present  con- 
dition of  their  business,  as  well  as  indicate  the  pros- 
pect for  the  future. 

As  showing  the  importations  of  jute,  manila, 
and  sisal,  I  present  the  following  for  the  fiscal  year 
ending  June  30,  1885 :  — 


19 

Tons.  Value.  Duties. 
Manila  and  other 

like  substitutes      25,408  |3,908,546  |634,217 

Sisal  grass  .     .     .     31,736  2,245,020  476,048 

Jute 14,922  785,507  157,101 

Jute  butts  .     .     .     78,230  2,304,553  391,153 

"     yarns  .     .     .       4,842  466,555  163,294 


155,138      19,710,181    |1,821,813 
1,821,813 


111,531,994 

These  figures  indicate  the  enormous  proportions 
to  which  the  business  in  these  fibres  has  been  car- 
ried; and  whatever  the  errors  of  past  legislation  con- 
cerning them,  whereby  American  fibres  may  have 
sufiered,  the  fact  that  these  industries  are  now  estab- 
lished must  be  recognized  at  this  time.  You  must 
consider  what  is  best  for  the  promotion  of  the  Amer- 
ican hemp  industry,  and  I  trust  you  will  be  able  to 
give  this  matter  due  attention. 

Can  we  not  devise  measures  to  promote  the  flax 
and  hemp  industries?  Can  a  stimulus  be  given  to 
the  invention  of  new  machinery  to  produce  results 
in  less  time  and  at  less  cost  than  by  present  methods  ? 
Can  we  not  make  a  strong  effort  to  utilize  the  flax 
fibre  we  may  raise?  Can  we  not  aid  to  bring 
about  an  increased  production  and  consumption  of 
American  hemp? 

These  are  questions  of  vital  interest,  and  they 
are  now  before  you.  Let  us  consider  them  carefully, 
not  expecting  to  accomplish  the  desired  results  in  a 
day,  but  rather  to  lay  a  sure  foundation,  and  then 


20 

press  forward  to  the  building  tip  of  industries  which 
shall  be  a  credit  to  our  country.  I  have  tried  to  lay 
before  you  facts  rather  than  to  attempt  to  solve  the 
problems  which  we  are  here  to  consider.  This 
meeting  should  throw  light  on  the  questions  to  be 
considered,  and  the  solution  of  the  difficulties  ought 
to  be  determined  after  we  have  had  a  full  inter- 
change of  views. 


21 


Copy  of  Notice  calling  the  Convention, 

SPINNERS  AND    GROWERS' 
ASSOCIATION- 

Boston,  Februai-y  15,  1886. 
Dear  Sir  :  — 

A  meeting  of  the  members  of  this  Association,  with  flax  and 
hemp  growei's  and  manufacturers,  and  all  others  interested  in  the 
promotion  of  the  flax  and  hemp  industry  in  the  United  States,  will 
be  held  at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  Chicago,  Illinois,  on 
Thursday,  February  25,  at  11  o'clock,  a.  m. 

It  is  expected  that  manufacturers  using  flax  and  herup  will 
bring  to  the  meeting  samples  of  these  fibres  in  various  stages  of 
manufacture,  that  their  requirements  ma}^  be  fully  explained  to 
the  growers.  It  is  also  expected  that  the  growers  of  flax  and 
hemp  will  bring  samples  of  what  the}^  may  have  raised  of  these 
fibres,  in  the  straw,  and  of  the  same  retted,  scutched,  or  otherwise 
prepared,  to  show  the  manufacturers  what  the  growers  are  now 
doing. 

Please  interest  yourself  and  prepare  samples  to  be  submitted, 
with  statement  of  an}^  facts,  statistics,  or  suggestions  which  would 
be  of  value  in  connection  therewith. 

We  trust  you  will  attend  and  take  an  interest  in  this 
movement  for  the  advancement  of  the  flax  and  hemp  business  in 
America, 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Government, 

F.  A.  J.  SMITH,  See'y,  A.  R.  TURNER,  Jr.,  Pres't, 

P.  0.  Box  2984,  New  York.  P.  0.  Box  5284,  Boston. 

You  are  requested  to  send  notice  of  the  meeting  to  any  persons  in 
your  vicinity  who  would  be  interested,  and  to  recxuest  their  attendance. 


22 


ABSTRACT  OF  PROCEEDINGS. 


A  meeting  of  the  Flax  and  Hemp  Spinners  and 
Growers'  Association,  with  others  interested  in  the 
promotion  of  the  flax  and  hemp  industry,  was  held 
at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  Chicago,  on  Thursday 
morning,  February  25,  1886,  at  eleven  o'clock. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order ;  and  on  motion 
of  Mr.  Abram  Bentley,  of  'New  Brighton,  Pa.,  Mr. 
A.  P.  Turner,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  President  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, was  elected  to  act  as  chairman  and  Mr.  F. 
A.  J.  Smith,  of  New  York,  Secretary  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, and  Mr.  "W.  J.  Loughridge,  of  Lexington, 
Ky.,  as  secretaries. 

Mr.  A.  P.  Turner,  Jr.,  presented  an  address  to 
the  Convention,  and  the  address  was  ordered  to  be 
printed. 

The  Secretary  read  most  interesting  communi- 
cations on  the  growth,  preparation,  etc.  of  flax,  from 
Mr.  J.  H.  Poss,  of  the  Boston  Thread  and  Twine 
Company,  Boston,  Mass.;  Mr.  H.  C.  Plumley,  of 
the  "Dakota  Argus,"  Fargo,  Dakota;  and  Mr.  H. 
C.  Craig,  of  Walnut,  Kansas. 

A  general  discussion  ensued  on  the  practica- 
bility of  using  hemp  (Kentucky)  and  native-grown 
flax  for  binder  twine,  in  lieu  of  the  manila  and  sisal 


23 

used  at  present,  Mr.  Bentley  contending  that  it  was 
merely  a  matter  of  education  (with  regard  to  the 
tension  of  the  reaping-machines)  of  the  farmers,  and 
that  flax  or  hemp  twine  was  superior  to  the  manila 
and  sisal;  Mr.  C.  S.  Crane,  of  Chicago,  controverting; 
and  Messrs.  W.  Jerome,  of  Champaign,  111.,  H.  A. 
Dement,  of  Dixon,  111.,  J.  S.  Mahan,  of  Champaign, 
111.,  James  Bojce,  of  Muncie,  Ind.,  and  others  taking 
part.  Mr.  John  Hinde,  of  'New  York  City,  and  Mr. 
Bentley  discussed  matters  relating  to  flax  and  flax 
tow,  and  explained  the  preparation  of  the  same  for 
fibre,  for  threads  and  twines  and  manufacturers' 
uses,  many  questions  being  asked  and  answered  on 
the  subject.  It  was  stated  by  Rev.  John  P.  Conkey, 
of  Dubuque,  Iowa,  that  flax  straw  was  valuable  as 
fodder,  and  that  he  spoke  from  experience,  having 
fed  it  to  his  cattle  with  great  success. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Bentley,  it  was  voted  that 
"  a  committee  of  nine,  consisting  of  three  represent- 
ing the  flax-groAving  interest,  three  the  hemp-grow- 
ing interest,  and  three  manufacturers  of  these  fibres, 
be  delegated  to  visit  Washington,  and  petition 
Congress  to  award  a  premium  for  the  invention  of 
a  machine  for  the  improved  handling  of  flax  and 
hemp  fibres." 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  for  an  hour. 

The  meeting  reconvened  at  three  o'clock.  Presi- 
dent Turner  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Sparks,  of  Kicholasville,  Ky.,  spoke  at 
length  on  the  question  of  the  tariff  (with  reference 
to  Mr.  Bentley's  motion),  advocating  a  continuance 
of  the  duty  on  hemp  and  flax,  and  claiming  that 
protection  was  more  needed  than  new  machinery. 


24 

Mr.  Boyce,  of  Muncie,  Ind.,  moved  that  Mr. 
Bentley's  motion  be  laid  on  the  table.     Lost. 

Mr.  Sparks  moved  an  amendment  to  Mr.  Bent- 
ley's  motion:  '^That  the  same  committee  shall  pro- 
test against  any  reduction  in  the  present  tariif 
relating  to  fibres,  and  shall  fully  represent  the 
affairs  of  the  Convention  before  the  proper  Con- 
gressional Committee."  This  amendment  was  ac- 
cepted by  Mr.  Bentley,  and  the  motion  was  further 
amended  by  adding  that  the  chairman  appoint  the 
members  of  said  committee  before  the  close  of  the 
convention.  Seconded  by  Mr.  Loughridge,  of  Lex- 
ington, Ky.,  and  carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  Loughridge  moved  that  "  a  committee 
be  appointed,  consisting  of  Mr.  Bentley,  of  l^ew 
Brighton,  Pa.,  Mr.  R.  W.  McEery,  of  Frankfort, 
Ky.,  and  Mr.  Crane,  of  Chicago,  111.,  to  draft  a  set 
of  resolutions  expressing  the  sense  of  the  Associa- 
tion in  reference  to  tariff  legislation,  and  any  other 
matters  which  they  may  deem  of  interest  to  parties 
here  represented."     Carried. 

On  motion,  the  meeting  adjourned  until  Feb- 
ruary 26,  at  ten  A.  m. 

Mr.  Rogers,  representing  the  Chicago  Board  of 
Trade,  extended  an  invitation  to  the  members  of  the 
Association  to  visit  the  Board  of  Trade.  The  invi- 
tation was  accepted,  and  twelve  o'clock,  February 
26,  was  the  time  decided  upon. 


25 
Febkuaby  26. 

The  meeting  was  promptly  called  to  order  at 
ten  A.  M.,  President  Turner  in  the  chair. 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions  reported  as 
follows :  — 

^^  Resolved,  That  we,  as  growers  and  manufac- 
turers in  convention  assembled,  agree  to  use  every 
endeavor  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  flax  and 
hemp  industry  in  the  United  States;  that  as  growers 
we  will  iise  every  effort  to  raise  and  prepare  the  fibre 
with  reference  to  the  wants  of  the  maniifacturers, 
and  that  as  manufacturers  we  will  co-operate  with 
the  growers  and  give  preference  to  American  flax 
and  hemp." 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Boyce,  of  Muncie,  Ind., 
that  the  report  be  adopted,  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Loughridge.     Carried. 

The  Committee  further  reported  as  follows :  — 

"  Whereas,  Any  reduction  of  the  tariff  at  this 
time  on  foreign  fibres,  including  jute,  manila,  sisal, 
flax  and  hemp,  would,  in  our  opinion,  be  disastrous 
to  important  domestic  industries,  both  agricultural 
and  manufacturing :  therefore,  be  it  resolved  by  this 
Convention,  representing  both  producers  and  man- 
ufacturers, that  our  Senators  and  Representatives  in 
Congress  be  respectfully  urged  to  oppose  any  such 
reduction,  whether  by  direct  legislation  or  indirectly 
by  reciprocity  treaties,  and  that  a  memorial  be  pre- 
pared and  forwarded  to  every  Senator  and  member 
of  Congress,  and  that  we  will  individually  urge  the 
matter  upon  their  attention." 

Moved  adoption  by  Mr.  Boyce,  of  Muncie,  Ind., 
and  seconded  by  Mr.  Sparks.     Carried. 


26 

The  President  appointed  a  committee  to  visit 
Washington,  to  consist  of  the  following:  — 

Hon.  Henry  D.  Dement,  Dixon,  111. 
Mr.  John  F.  Conkey,  Dubuque,  Iowa. 
Mr.  W.  S.  Benton,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
Mr.  W.  J.  Loughridge,  Lexington,  Ky. 
Mr.  A.  S.  Winston,  Lexington,  Ky. 
Mr.  B.  A.  Mellen,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
Mr.  Abram  Bentley,  ^N'ew  Brighton,  Pa. 
Mr.  William  Barbour,  Paterson,  ]N".  J. 
Mr.  Wm.  Allen,  :N'ew  York,  ]^.  Y. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Bentley,  the  President,  Mr. 
Turner,  was  added  to  and  named  as  chairman  of  the 
above  committee.  Discussion  then  ensued  in  regard 
to  the  best  method  of  reaching  the  farmers,  with  in- 
formation as  to  the  method  of  growing  and  prepar- 
ing flax  for  fibre. 

Mr.  Bentley  moved  "  That  the  President's 
address  be  printed,  together  with  an  account  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Association  at  this  meeting,  and 
also  that  a  pamphlet  setting  forth  the  manner  of  the 
planting,  preparing,  etc.  of  flax  be  issued  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board  of  Government."  Seconded 
by  Mr.  Hinde.     Carried. 

Mr.  Wm.  Barbour,  of  Paterson,  ^NT.  J.,  moved 
"  That  the  expenses  of  the  committee  to  Washington 
be  paid  by  the  Association."     Carried.  • 

It  was  moved  and  adopted  that  Mr.  Mahan,  of 
Champaign,  111.,  take  charge  of  the  various  samples 
exhibited,  and  present  the  same  to  the  University  of 
Illinois,  at  Champaign. 


27 

The  Flax  and  Hemp  Spinners  and  Growers' 
Association  then  met  as  an  Association,  for  the  elec- 
tion of  members,  and  the  election  of  officers  to  serve 
for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  following  new  members  were  proposed  in 
writing  by  Mr.  Gr.  H.  Torr,  of  Andover,  Mass.,  and 
they  were  unanimously  elected. 

Mr.  E.  E.  Sparks,  Nicholas ville,  Ky. 

Mr.  W.  J.  Loughridge,  Lexington,  Ky. 

Mr.  James  Boyce,  Muncie,  Tnd. 

Messrs.  J.  F.  Scott  &  Bro.,  Lexington,  Ky. 

Kentucky  River  Mills,  Frankfort,  Ky. 

Mr.  A.  S.  Winston,  Lexington,  Ky. 

Messrs.  H.  B.  ]S"elson  &  Bro.,  Lexington,  Ky. 

Mr.  C.  S.  Crane,  Chicago,  Bl. 


The    following    officers    were    elected    for   the 
ensuing  year :  — 

Mk.  a.  K.  TuKis^EE,  Jr.,  Boston,  Mass.,  President. 
Mr.  Wm.  Allen",  ISTew  York  City,  Vice-President. 
Mr.  Geo.  H.  Torr,  Andover,  Mass.,  Treasurer. 
Me.  F.  a.  J.  Smith,  'New  York  City,  Secretary. 


28 


Board  of  Oovernment. 

Mr.  Christopher  Bailey,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Mr.  Chas.  F.  Wymai^,  Boston,  Mass. 

Mr.  John  G.  McMaster,  Greenwich,  IS".  Y. 

Mr.  Wm.  Barbour,  Paterson,  ]^.  J. 

Mr.  James  Boyoe,  Muncie,  Ind. 

Mr.  E.  p.  Sparks,  ]^icholasville,  Ky. 

Mr.  Abram  Bentley,  ^ew  Brighton,  Pa. 

On  motion,  adjourned  sine  die. 

F.  A.  J.  SMITH,  Secretary. 


